Washing-machine



No. 607,9. Patented July 26, 1898.. F. S. BLABKMARR.

WASHING MACHINE.

7 (Application filed June 29, 1897.) l.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Q 3 wfimmw Q5 InVeniar THE NORRIS PETERS o0. PHOTD-LITNQ. WASHINGTON. n. c,

No. 07,9. batented'luly 26, 18:98.

F. S. BLACKMARR. WASHING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 29, 1897.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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Main/eaves W /7/17 fleaerzbn d7 24 9 THE unnms PETERS cu, PHOTO-LITHD. WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNlTF" 'rn rns WASHING- MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 607,911, dated July 26, 1898.

Application filed June 29, 1897.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S: BLACK- MARR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Minneapolis, in the county of Hennepin and State of Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Washing- Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and eXac-tdescription of the invention, such as will enable others or head. Washing-machines of this type as.

hitherto constructed have been subject to many serious defects, which it is the especial object of my invention to eradicate or remove, and thereby increase the working speed and efficiency of the machine.

To the ends'above noted my invention consists of the novel devices and combinations of devices hereinafter described, and defined in the claims.

The preferred form of myinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where in like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views.

Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sect-ion taken centrally through my improved washing-machine, the movable parts of the same being shown in their intermediate positions." Fig. 2 is a similar view to Fig. 1, but illustrating different positions of the movable parts. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section taken through the machine substantially on the line X X ofFig. 1. Fig. at is a viewin perspective, showing a portion of the so-called rubber. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the so-called oscillating cage or scrubbing-board. Fig. 6 is a detail view in side elevation, looking from the inside of the machine and showing a portion of one side of the suds-box and a trunnion-seat or socket which is set therein; and Fig. 7 is a horizontal section'taken on the line X X of Fig. 6.

As shown, the suds-box is approximately oblong in form and is constructed with wooden tbeveled off, as shown at d.

Serial Noeiavse. (No model.)

, sides land galvanized-iron bottom 2, and this suds-box is supported bylegs 3. The sides 1 of the box are built up inward about one-half their height by lining-boards 4, which are secured thereto by means of screws, nails, or other devices. The top of the scrubbing-box may be closed by means of a removable top which are hinged together, and the end members a?) of which are pivotally mounted by means of suitable trunnions located at their intermediate portions. The bodies of the cage-sections are formed principally of galvanized corrugated iron plates, which are clamped between segmental rims or frameirons a, b, and c, respectively. The corrugated plates are held in place by series of lugs a b 0 projecting in Zigzag arrangement, respectively, from the rims a b c, and the said rims are clamped onto the edges of the corrugated plates or sections'a b c by means of tie bolts or rods a b 0 The connected ends of the sections a Z) c are hinged together by transverse hinge bolts or rods a b, which are passed through the overlapping ends of the said rims or segmental frameironsa b c. The rims a and b are provided at their intermediate portions with outwardly-projecting trunnions or studs 19 respectively, which work in suitable sockets or trunnion-seats mounted near the top of the lining-boards i. As shown, these sockets or trunnion-seats are in the form of U shaped castings d, the upper prongs of which are The sockets d fit seats cut for the same in the inside or lining boards 4. By reference particularly to Figs. 6 and 7 it will be noted that the beveled prongs d are dovetailed into the said seat, so that when the board 4 is secured in place the sockets d cl are held in place, so that they cannot be removed either by sidewise or vertical movement.

The upper endsof the rims or side pieces a b are connected by tie-bars a which are pivoted on the upper members of the tie-rods 0. 11 At their centers the tie-bars 0!. are

provided with inwardly-projecting studs or pins a An oscillating motion is imparted to the cage or oscillating scrubbing-board, above described, by means of handles f, as shown, formed by parallel levers tied together in the ordinary manner by cross-rods. The lower ends of the levers of this handpiece are preferably slightly tapered, as illustrated at f, and fitin suitable sockets f which, as shown, are formed integral with the upper ends of the side rims a. The said levers or handles f work through suitable slots cut in the top board or cover 5.

The so-called rubber or head is made up of perforate side plates g, which are connected by a corrugated bottom or rubbing plate g, which is constructed on the general line of an arc of a circle. This corrugated bottom g and the sides g are preferably of galvanized iron. The rubber is given its oscillatory motion by means of a device which is constructed as follows:

It; indicates a pair of vibrating levers or arms, which are pivoted at their upper ends and are free to vibrate within the suds-box close to the inside or lining boards 4: to and fro on both sides of the longitudinal center of the machine. As shown, this is accom plished by headed trunnions 7s on the upper ends of'said levers 7.0, which work in suitable sockets 70 secured in the upper edges of the sides 1 of the suds-box. On their outer faces the levers 7c are provided with verticallyelongated grooves or seats 75, in which the projecting studs or pins a of the tie-bars a freely work. On their inner faces said oscillating levers 7c are formed with longitudinally-extended channels or grooves 70 which are opened at their tops and closed at their bottoms. The side plates 9 of the rubber are provided with outwardly-projecting pairs of studs 9 which work in these slots or grooves 70 In this manner the rubber g g is so mounted that it will be carried by the oscillating arms 70 and while it will be held against pivotal movement thereon will be free to rise and fall to adapt itself to the thickness of the body of the clothes which are being Washed and which are pressed between the corrugated bottom of the cage or oscillating scrubbing-board and the corrugated bottom 9 of said rubber.

The novel manner of mounting the oscillating cage or scrubbing-board and the oscillating rubber has now been indicated, and the principal novel features of departure in the construction of said parts will next be particularly noted. The upper half-sections of the corrugated endsections a and 1), instead of being formed of galvanized-iron plates, are preferably constructed of coarsely-woven galvanized-iron screen -sections a b respectively, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. Short slits or transversely-elongated perforations c are cut through the bottoms of the corrugations of the bottom section 0, and likewise slits or perforations a and b are formed in the plate portions of the corrugated sections 0. and b, respectively. 7

The corrugated bottom of the rubber g g is formed with slits or transversely-elongated perforations which are cut through the highest points of the corrugations, and the side plates 9 are provided with slits or perforations 9 At both extremities of the corrugated bottom g the rubber is provided with corrugated rollers 9 which are loosely mounted in the side plates 9. As shown, these corrugated rollers g are formed of galvanizediron plate. Each corrugated roller 9 is subject to the action of a pair of retaining-pawls g pivoted to side plates g and provided with transverse extensions g at their free ends, which are adapted to rest in the corrugations of said roller. The pawls g, which operate on the same roller 9 have their lateral eX-' tensions 9 set one in advance of the other half the distance of one of the corrugations of said roller, and hence will prevent the,

roller from slipping backward more than onehalf the distance of a corrugation. The retaining-pawls 9 permit the rollers g to turn in the direction indicated by the arrows marked on Figs. 1, 2, and 4, but prevent the same from turning in reverse directions. The rubber is also provided on the opposite sides of its center and some little distance inward from the corrugated rollers g with a pair of toothed rockers, which cooperate with the said rollers to work the clothes toward the center of the rubber. As shown, each of these toothed rockers involves an oscillating semicylindrical rocker g", which works through a transverse slot cut in the corrugated bottom g and is provided with projecting flanges g which are adapted to engage said bottom g to limit its oscillation. This semicylindrical rocker g is provided with a series of pins or teeth 9, which depend therefrom in position to engage the clothes which are being washed. The flanges g permit the pins 9 to move or vibrate between the two extreme positions illustrated in Fig. 2.

When the clothes to be washed are placed in the suds-box, between the bottom of the cage or oscillating scrubbing-board and the bottom of the rubber, and the proper amount of water and soap or other detergent is supplied within the suds-box, the washing action will be substantially as follows: By reciprocating the handles f the bottom section 0 of the cage or scrubbing-board and the rubber will be simultaneously oscillated or vibrated in reverse directions. As the rubberis thrown to one of its extreme positions opposite one of the end sections a orb, as the case may be, of the cage or scrubbing-board the clothes will be subjected to an increased pressure, and the water squeezed from the same will find a ready escape through the slits or perforations in the bottom g of the rubber and of the cage or scrubbing-board. Under the oscillating movement of the parts above described the water in the suds-box will be caused to rush from one end to the other thereof with awave-like action which will follow the direction of movement of the rubber g g. This is caused principally by the movement of the bottom section of the cage or scrubbing-board in the reverse direction, so as to produce a displacement of water in the opposite end of the scrubbing-box. For example, when the parts are thrown into the positions shown in Fig. 2 the water willrise in the left end of the scrubbing-box. The Water which thus rises will freely flow through the wire-screen section 9 and will submerge the clothes with a dashing action. In this manner a continuous circulation of water is kept up on the clothes. Under the movement of the rubber from its extreme position toward the right into its extreme position toward the left, as shown in Fig. 2, the corrugated roller 9 and the teeth g of the rocker, which are in advance or on the left-hand side of said rubber, will pass over the clothes with very little or no tendency to carry the clothes with them; but under this movement the roller and the teeth of the rocker which are on the right-hand side or end of the rubber, being held against movement in the positions shown, engage and drag the clothes with them with an action which will tend to turn the clothes over, so that on the next or return stroke of the rubber other surfaces of the clothes will be directly exposed to the rubhing-surfaces of the rubber and of the cage or scrubbing-board. An important action of the rollers and rockers, however, is this: that they keep the clothes worked toward the center of the scrubbing-box and cage or scrubbing-board and effectually prevent the same from Working in either direction out of the position in which they will be engaged and acted upon by the rubber g g.

It will be noted that the actions of the rubber and of the cage or oscillating scrubbingboard are exactly the same under both strokes of the same. This of course makes the Washing-machine just as efficient under one stroke as under the other.

The rubber g g, it will be noted, is not mounted for pivotal movement on the oscillating levers or arms 70, but is fixed against pivotal movement thereon and is free to rise,

and fall to adapt itself to the clothes. When the levers and other parts occupy their intermediate positions, as indicated in Fig. 1, the levers will have no tendency either to raise or to lower the rubber g g, but simply tend to force the same with a rubbing action over the clothes.

Attention is called to the fact that as the pivoted end sections a and b of the cage or oscillating scrubbing-board and the rubber or head 9 g are moved from their intermediate positions (indicated in Fig. 1) into one of their extreme positions (indicated in Fig. 2) the tie-bars a, with their pins or studs a will be lowered or moved downward from the top of the machine and from the fulcrum or pivot point of the oscillating hangers or levers- 7a. This increases the leverage and power of the said hangers or levers 70 as the parts ap proach their extreme movements in a-particular direction, thus giving the greatest power while the hardest work is being done.

The handles f may of course be lifted out of place or out of working position simply by drawing on the same. When the cover or top board 5 is removed, the rubber or head g 9 maybe readily lifted out of the elongated seats or grooves 70 of the hangers or levers lo.

From the foregoing description the points of advantage and improvement in my im proved washing-machine arev thought to be made clear. It will, however, be understood that various alterations in the specific details of construction above set forth maybe made Without departing from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is as follows:

1. The combination with a suds-box, of an oscillating cage or scrubbing board constructed in pivotally-connected sections, an oscillating part or parts connected to move simultaneously with the sections of said cage or scrubbing-board, and a rubber or head fixed against pivotal movement but free for vertical movement on said oscillating part or parts, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a suds-box and an oscillating cage or scrubbing-board formed with pivotally-connected sections, of one or more tie-bars connecting the upper ends of said pivotally-connected sections, a pair of oscillating levers -or arms operated by said tie-bar, and an oscillating rubber or head carried by said levers or arms and connected thereto by joints which permit vertical but prevent pivotal movements of said rubber or head, with respect to said arms, substantially as described.

3. The combination with a suds-box and an oscillating cage or scrubbing-board formed with pivotally-connected sections, of a pair of tie-bars connecting the upper ends of the pivoted cage-sections and provided at their intermediate portions with studs or projections a the pair of oscillating levers 76 with grooved inner faces k and grooved outeiufaces 70 engaging said pins cfl, and the rubber or head 9 g provided with studs g working in said grooves 70, substantially as described.

4. The combination with a cage or receptacle for the clothes, which cage or receptacle is provided with a bottom, the opposite ends of which are constructed to offer approximately the same resistance to the outward -movement of the clothes, of an oscillating rubber or head cooperating with said cage or receptacle, and provided, on the opposite sides of its longitudinal center, with feed devices which act to carry the clothes in their movement toward the center or bottom of said cage or receptacle, but pass over said clothes when reversely moved, substantially as described.

5. The combination with a cage or receptacle for the clothes, of an oscillating rubber or head cooperating therewith and provided on the opposite sides of its longitudinal center with feed-rollers which are free to rotate in one direction but not in the other, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

6. The combination with a cage or receptacle for the clothes, of an oscillating rubber or head cooperating therewith and provided, on

10 the opposite sides of its longitudinal center,

with oscillating rockers provided with downwardly-projecting pins or teeth adapted for engagement with the clothes, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature I 5 in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK S. BLACKMARR. Witnesses:

DANIEL DOUGLAS, J AS. F. WILLIAMSON. 

